Lindsay (cellular and molecular medicine, U. of London, UK) presents ten chapters intended to provide an overview of the major areas of staphylococcal genetics research in recent years and future directions. Aimed at both specialists trying to cover a large field and readers new to bacterial genetics, the chapters provide explanations of technologies and techniques and define specialist terms. Chapters cover sequence, microarray, and systems biology; the population structure of Staphylococcus aureus; S. aureus evolution (lineages and mobile genetic elements); rapid diagnosis and typing; genetic manipulation; global regulators of S. aureus virulence genes; the response of S. aureus to environmental stimuli; mechanisms of ss-lactam and glycopeptide resistance in S. aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococci; and staphylococci of animals. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation 2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
